Mazda MX-5 GT RS: what two Australian road tests found

Two road tests, one consistent verdict on the drive

CarExpert's review of the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT RS, published in April 2026, listed pros including an unbeatable driving experience, a car that is analogue inside and out, and RS upgrades that don't compromise comfort. Its cons were that cheaper variants are more logical, front parking sensors aren't standard, and the boot is tiny with no spare wheel. CarExpert's take concluded that the fourth-generation MX-5 is a real gem and at its best with a canvas roof, while arguing the Roadster is the pick for a sporty weekender because the chassis shines most with its weight kept low. ⁵

GoAuto's review, by Peter Barnwell and published on 3 October 2026, put the GT RS to work over three days in Tasmania with the Mazda MX-5 Club of Victoria and Tasmania, including six Targa Tasmania rally stages driven at legal road speeds plus track sessions at Symmons Plains and Baskerville. Barnwell described the GT RS as an ideal companion for the demanding Tassie roads, crediting its supple suspension that is more GT-oriented than track hard, sharp steering responses, taut chassis, grippy Bridgestone Potenza RE005 rubber and strong brakes. GoAuto's verdict was that the ND-series MX-5, despite its age, is ideal for appreciating driving pleasures of the kind Tasmania offers. ¹²

Specifications and what the GT RS adds

Both outlets describe the same core mechanical package: a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing 135kW/205Nm, with GoAuto noting peak power arrives at 7000rpm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox in both test cars. CarExpert lists kerb weight at 1063kg, a 45-litre fuel tank requiring 95-octane premium unleaded, and Euro 5 emissions compliance; GoAuto cited 1070kg for the car it drove. ¹²⁵

The GT RS adds 17-inch BBS forged alloy wheels, Bilstein dampers, Brembo front brakes, a front suspension tower brace bar, heated piano-black power mirrors and a DSC-TRACK stability-control calibration, according to CarExpert's equipment breakdown for the 2026 range. GoAuto's test car was a manual in white with a black cloth top, black leather upholstery, Bose audio and heated seats, and it also noted what Mazda calls an asymmetrical differential designed to moderate rear-wheel lock-up on corner entry and wheelspin on exit. ⁵¹

CarExpert lists the Roadster at 3915mm long, 1735mm wide and 1230mm high on a 2310mm wheelbase, with 130 litres of cargo capacity. Its reviewers found the cabin refreshingly analogue with an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, tactile climate controls and supportive heated leather seats, though storage is tight and the boot is small. ⁵

Fuel use: two different tests, two different numbers

The two road tests produced different fuel figures under very different conditions, and neither is a standardised consumption result. CarExpert recorded 6.7L/100km as tested during a week mixing highway commuting and mountain runs, against a claimed 6.8L/100km. GoAuto's Peter Barnwell reported an average of 7.8L/100km over the three-day Tassie Tarmac Tracks event, which spanned city driving, freeways, tight country roads and fast track driving. ⁵¹

Pricing, running costs and rivals

CarExpert's 2026 price list puts the Roadster GT RS manual at $52,290 before on-road costs, the flagship soft-top above the Roadster GT manual ($49,290) and GT auto ($50,790), with the RF GT RS manual at $56,790. The base Roadster manual is listed at $42,640. GoAuto's review also cited the GT RS Roadster at $52,290 plus on-road costs. CarExpert separately displays drive-away pricing for the 2026 MX-5 range spanning $46,675 to $61,485 based on a Sydney location, but its pricing notes state these figures exclude CTP insurance, dealer delivery fees and optional extras, may vary between states and territories, and are subject to change without notice — a different basis from the before-on-roads list prices. ⁵¹³

On running costs, CarExpert details a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, five years of roadside assistance, 12-month or 15,000km service intervals, and seven years of capped-price servicing totalling $4005 for the manual, with an average annual service cost of $572.14. It notes the first five years of manual servicing total $2862, against $2563.85 for the manual Subaru BRZ and $1250 for the manual Toyota GR86, whose first five services are capped at $250 each. ⁵

CarExpert frames the competitive set narrowly: the only direct Australian rivals are the rear-wheel-drive Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ twins. The GR86 GTS is listed at $46,090 before on-roads and the BRZ tS at $52,790, with the tS likewise gaining STI-tuned suspension and Brembo brakes. The next-cheapest rear-drive convertible, the Ford Mustang GT, is listed at $93,666 before on-road costs. CarExpert argues the GR86 may offer better value with more power, but is heavier, thirstier and runs costlier 98-octane fuel. ⁵

Safety rating, the long-lived ND and what comes next

CarExpert reports the MX-5's five-star ANCAP rating from 2016 has now expired, leaving the roadster without a current independent local safety rating. Its standard safety kit includes four airbags, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and traffic sign recognition, with lane-centring, adaptive cruise control and standard front parking sensors absent. Front parking sensors are available as a $781 option across the range. ⁵

The reviews also place the GT RS within a long-running generation, though their timelines differ: GoAuto states the ND series has been around for 12 years and received a 2024 upgrade covering lighting, technology and steering, while CarExpert dates the ND's global launch to 2015 and identifies that update as the 'ND3'. ¹⁵

Future-model context continues to build separately from the current car. GoAuto reported in August 2026 that Mazda president and chief executive Masahiro Moro said the successor to the current MX-5 must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine, with engineers targeting a kerb weight of between 1000kg and 1200kg. GoAuto also cited Mazda Motor Europe's Christian Schultze noting a fully electric MX-5 would fundamentally change the car's architecture, and design director Jo Stenuit expecting at least some form of electric assistance. Mazda has not confirmed a battery-electric version or any launch timing, and GoAuto notes no debut date for the next generation has been announced. ⁴